IATSE Leader Michael Proscia Dies at 87

Michael Proscia, a longtime leader of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, died Sunday. He was 87.

Proscia first joined IATSE in 1957 with membership to IATSE Locals One, 52 and 477. After serving as president and business agent of Local 52 for a number of years, he was elected as an international vice president in 1980 and served as general secretary-treasurer from 1994 to 2002, when he announced his retirement.

Proscia was executive vice president of the conference of motion picture and television unions in New York, and was active in the Press Club and the Radio and Television Working Press Association. He also served as a film commissioner for the state of New Jersey.

Proscia was a founding member of IATSE Local 477. In 2011, he was presented with a cut-glass award to commemorate the establishment of the Michael W. Proscia/IATSE Local 477 Scholarship, which helps children of Florida’s professional filmworkers with tuition and living expenses while attending the technical schools, colleges and universities, and graduate programs of their choice.

He served in the U.S. Army and received both a World War II victory medal and a good conduct medal for his work as a Signal Corps master sergeant.

“The International mourns the passing of Michael Proscia and expresses gratefulness for his invaluable contributions to the IATSE and its membership,” the union said.

Viewing will take place at Macagna Funeral Home in Cliffside, NJ on Thursday and Friday. A funeral mass will held Saturday at 10:15 a.m. at St. Joseph of Palisades in West New York, NJ.